Glendale falls without Frazier

Men's tennis: The Vaqueros learn heading into conference play next week.

March 27, 2011|By Andrew Shortall, andrew.shortall@latimes.com

NORTHEAST GLENDALE — Revenge was on the mind of the Glendale Community College men's tennis team coming into Saturday's match against Middlebury College, after falling to the Panthers, 6-3, last season.

The Vaqueros were unable to get even with Middlebury, the reigning NCAA Division III champs, losing 7-2. Glendale had to play without the services of its No. 3 singles player, Grayson Frazier, who was out with a cold.

Glendale Coach Bob MacKay knew it could have been a different story if Frazier was available, but he was "completely satisfied" his team held its own against a "damn good tennis team."

Sarkissian defeated Peters, 6-2, 6-3, and Campbell bested Bruchmiller, 6-4, 6-1. Campbell was up, 5-1, in the first game but Bruchmiller came charging back, winning four games in a row, before Campbell closed it out.

Campbell said he lost focus at first, getting it back in the second half of the match before cruising to a 6-1 win in the second game.

"I just needed to stay focused all the way through and be more consistent, not go for shots I didn't need to," Campbell said.

Sarkissian and Campbell weren't able to end the day undefeated, as they fell to Peters and Bruchmiller in doubles play, 8-4.

"Trevor and I are still figuring each other out and experimenting with a few things," Sarkissian said. "We've improved already and in a few months we'll be even better."

The loss dropped Sarkissian and Campbell to 11-2 in doubles this season.

"Alex and Trevor continue to get better at singles and remember, they're two singles players learning to play doubles," MacKay said.

MacKay thinks Saturday's loss to Middlebury (4-0) will serve as a lesson for his team heading into conference play next week. Glendale hits the road Tuesday to play L.A. Pierce College at 2 p.m. and will come back home to face Ventura at 2 p.m. on Thursday.

"Going into a week like we are, sometimes it's good to get your butt kicked," said MacKay, whose team fell to 8-6 on the season. "I think it gives you a reality check that if you don't play good tennis you're going to get beat."